Breast-compressor



(No Model.)

T. ,R. CHAMBERS. BREAST COMPRESSOR.

Patented Jan. 23, 1894;.

H m N M N 0 W/TNESSES.

UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

TALBOT R. CHAMBERS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEV JERSEY.

BREAST-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,086, dated January 23, 1894.

Application filed May 3, 1892. Serial No. 31,640- (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALBOT R. CHAMBERS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Surgical Appliance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to appliances for the treatment, relief and cure of caked, indurated or swollen breasts in women, whether the ailment occur before or after confinement, or results from bruising or other injury. Its object is to enable a gentle compression,- such as is favored by skilled nurses and accoucheurs for the dispersion of such indurations in their early stage and before abscess or cancer is formed,to be applied to the breasts by means at once eflicient and cleanly muse and operation, easy and accurate in adjustment, simple in construction and moderate in cost.

I-Ieretofore the custom has been to tie a muslin binder tightly across the breasts of the patient, but such an appliance is found in practice to be very objectionable, as, to be of service surgically, it has to be bound on so tightly that it is apt to cut the wearers person, and also unduly interfere with respiration. The fabric of the binder is also liable to become quickly soiled by exuding milk and perspiration. My invention is specially designed for the purpose of obviating these objections, and for applying the efficient treatment above mentioned to the best advantage, and with the least trouble to patient, attendant or nursing child.

The invention consists of the construction hereinafter set forth.

For complete comprehension of the invention reference must be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifica tion wherein similar letters of reference inclicate like parts.

Figure 1 represents my appliance with its parts arranged as when in actual use, the wearers form, for clearness, being indicated only in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of one half of the jacket when unfas- I tened and laid flat.

A, A are the back sections, made of linen,

cotton, fine duck, or other suitable fabric or material, joined at about the middle of the back by laces A, or other suitable fastening device, being preferably adjustable to fit different figures.

a, a are suitable shoulder straps extending from the back sections A, A to the upper corners of the front or breast-compressing sections B, B Where they are provided with clasps C, C, or other proper fastenings which will allow the shoulder straps to be adjusted, or these fastenings may be placed nearer the back sections, as may be found most convenient.

The compressing sections B, Bare joined at points I) to the forward edges of the back sections, in any approved way, and are of such area and contour as will properly cover the breasts of the patient, (preferably of the shapeshown in Fig. 2 when lying flat or in their normal condition, whichI find is best calculated for the purpose in view,) b, b being orificesone in each compression section properly situated to allow the nipples to projectthrough them. 'Thefrontadjoiningedges b b of the breast sections are preferably arranged so as not to meet closely, as it is desirable to provide for ventilation at this point. I therefore prefer to use hooks or holdfasts c, c, and open rings 0, c',-the hooks or holdfasts projecting from the binding at the edges of both sections B, B, and the rings connecting them,in such manner that an opening may be maintained down the front of the appliance. In some cases I may prefer to use laces for connecting the breast sections, or may adopt other fastening devicessuch as some of those used in corsets, when found suitable for carrying out the purposes of my tact therewith to stretch and consequently retract against them and thus apply the compresslon needed in the treatment of the ailments or diseases herein alluded to.

In practice I prefer to make the entire front section B, B of rubber cured or vulcanlzed by the Goodyear process, which insures a smooth, satin-like surface for contact with the patients skin, and which is not objectionable to the child who may be nursing while the appliance is worn. Furthermore, the compressing material may only form such proportion of the front sections ofthe appllance as may be necessary to cover the affected parts,--and the remainder be of text- 11e or other flexible material, proper binding or edging being applied throughout at the polnts where extra strength is required. The shoulder or supporting straps, also, may be dlfierently arranged without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention. a

The appliance herein set forth may be readily put upon the person by the patient herself, without assistance, and can, if desirable, be Worn underneath the corset. The

nipple apertures in the compressing sections tend to give prominence to those organs, which is of service in nursing,--and the exudlng milk is also prevented from excoriating the breast by being thus directed exteriorly,

and the impervious material insures cleanliness in practical use.

The appliance is usually worn for several days at a time, or until the breasts resume their normal condition.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. An appliance for the treatment of the diseased breasts of women, comprising apiece of flexible, elastic and readily yielding fabric normally fiat,'and adapted to be stretched over the breast, and means comprising adjustableback and shoulder pieces for supporting and binding said piece firmly upon the breast whereby the piece of fabric is stretched and made to conform to the shape of the breast, and whereby a gentle, firm and evenly distributed pressure is exerted upon the breast, substantially as set forth.

2. In an appliance for the treatment of caked or swollen breasts, the combination with a suitable body jacket or support, of a breast-covering portion or section made of an elastic material so constructed as to lie normally flat when the section is distended in applying compression to the breast, substantially as set forth.

TALBOT R. CHAMBERS.

Witnesses:

.ROBT. A. KELLAND, MORGAN B. HARRIS. 

